♪ >> "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is brought to you by... ...with additional support from the following companies... >> Today on "Life in Bloom," we're thinking outside the vase when it comes to flower containers.

Memories and upcycling are on the agenda as I go on the hunt for containers in an antique market and even around the house.

Then I'll show you how to add flowers for truly unique arrangements and provide more ideas to reuse and repurpose.

♪ ♪ I'm J Schwanke.

Welcome to "Life in Bloom."

"I love older things that people have used and cherished.

They have personality, character, and soul."

The vase is a traditional vessel for holding and displaying your flowers, and with good reason.

They come in endless styles and are made to marry form and function.

Today on "Life in Bloom," we're going to ask you to think outside the vase when it comes to flower containers.

♪ ♪ We'll go on the hunt for new-to-us containers, and whether you find them at an antique market, in your own home, or your recycle bin, one thing is certain -- Your creativity is the only limit.

♪ There are few things in life that are more exciting than finding a treasure in an antique store, and today I'm on the lookout for things that could be used as flower containers.

♪ ♪ ♪ Wow, this is great with a Calla Lily shape like that.

That's beautiful.

Wow, this little planter, it's the exact same shape as the flower frog that I have that's in a teal color.

I'm going to have to get that.

♪ I think it's so interesting because when we come to an antique store, there's other things that are here that are memorabilia for people.

I look at things that I had at one point in time, and I want to reclaim that part of my childhood and bring it back, but I'm also looking for flower containers, and there's flower containers that are here, obviously.

This is a great little baby-boy novelty, and you would put a plant in here, but obviously you could put a flower arrangement in it as well.

Here is a little lazy Susan.

That's fun, and that green coloration -- Now, this was used for dips, and this was used for crudités on the side, but there isn't any reason you couldn't put flowers in there or flowers in the center.

It would be a fun way to have flowers on your dining room table, and it spins around.

Glassware is another opportunity because any little cocktail glasses or juice glasses could be used for flowers.

Here is another great example.

This tin cup would make a great vase for garden flowers, and you could pair it with little oil tins and have a nice little display.

Oh, look at this.

It's a little boat.

Obviously this was used for hors d'oeuvres, or it could've maybe even been a planter, but I love that it's got a handle on it, and it would be fun to even do an ikebana-style arrangement in it or do flowers in it.

That's a great keeper.

That's going to go home.

I love the teal color.

I'm always looking for a specific color, too.

There used to be a lot of pottery vases, and this is from Rumrill, but I love that it has an interior that's teal, and it would be a great display for flowers.

It's always about exploring and finding something that's unique and unusual.

♪ Wow, this is a Camark pottery.

I love Camark.

That's an original label.

These are great for flower vases.

I love the extra holes on the side.

This will be great for an arrangement.

♪ Well, these are interesting.

They're little seed packets.

I could decoupage those on the outside of a crate for a flower arrangement.

♪ Well, I could spend all day looking for items, but these are great.

Let's take these home and make some flower arrangements.

♪ Let's take a few of the treasures we purchased at the antique store and also others that I've collected from other adventures and show you how easy it is to repurpose these containers for arrangements.

Obviously, our vase is going to be great with flowers in it.

This ashtray can become a new vessel.

The seed packets I purchased, I took glue and decoupaged them to the front of this wooden box, so that makes a whole new container from another container.

Got these little novelties.

I love animal novelties.

This was probably a baby novelty at some point in time, and we're going to use it as a container for a Tillandsia.

This one is a flower frog, so we can arrange short flowers there.

This planter is a Cocker Spaniel.

I love the green color, and I put flower foam in there, so we can arrange flowers in it.

And then there's this bamboo vase.

I like the tripod effect.

It's actually one vase on the inside, and so we have three places to insert our flowers.

So now let's add flowers to our found treasures.

♪ ♪ ♪ Tillandsia don't need soil.

They simply sit in a vessel, and you mist them with water.

♪ Short flowers and foliage from the garden are ideal for this flower-frog centerpiece.

♪ ♪ Soaked flower foam allows for specific strategic placement of flowers and foliage and makes arranging so easy.

One of the foliages I like to cut from the garden is rosemary.

It encourages good memory.

I remember that when my dad was suffering loss of memory, I got him a rosemary plant, and I would tell him to rub it when he couldn't remember certain things, and he found it very productive to help with his memory.

Incorporating rosemary into a flower arrangement is a great way to have the rosemary scent around the house.

One of my favorite things about arranging flowers is its ability to help me relax.

It releases endorphins, and it actually makes me feel better.

I almost get a Zen-like feeling when I'm arranging flowers.

There's Rutgers studies and Boston University studies that show that arranging flowers actually helps us relax.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ This is a fun and somewhat deceiving dessert for an outdoor party.

Who will be the first to eat the dirt cake?

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I love recycled and repurposed liquor bottles.

For example, this one for my flowers today, it's actually the same tequila bottle that's been cut off and made into a flower vase.

It's the perfect accent for this cocktail.

We'll start off with some of our pineapple sage.

We'll muddle about 8 or 10 leaves in our container with three blackberries and two lumps of sugar.

♪ Then we'll add two jiggers of tequila.

Then we'll add a splash of fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice.

I love squeezing my own grapefruit juice, and I especially like the pink ones because the color is so vibrant.

We'll add ice and shake.

♪ And pour it into a rocks glass.

You could also strain it if you want a clearer drink, but I like all those little pieces and parts down inside here.

It's a beautiful cocktail, perfect for Flower Cocktail Hour.

♪ Here is a simple way to personalize containers.

This project is perfect for a special occasion.

I simply used a great little stencil like this, and I created a template with a piece of cardboard.

So I cut out a hole in the middle so that it would mask off my entire container, and then I taped down my letter on the back, so you'll notice it's backwards.

When I lay it this way, it's forwards.

So then I can line it up on my container.

♪ And we'll hold it down firmly and just spray over the top.

It's an easy way for you to put different letters on there.

So I went ahead and created our centerpiece using those letters.

You could do monograms.

You could do whatever you want on the outside of the containers.

We'll start with our blue Hydrangea.

I'll place two blossoms into the first container.

Because our colors are blue and lavender, our next container will be all lavender Hydrangea.

Then I'll start adding the antique Hydrangea, and I'm using different colors so I have a great heirloom-type look for the entire centerpiece.

Now we need to place some flowers into our lavender vessels.

We'll use tulips.

The tulips are a perfect contrast to our beautiful hydrangea.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Today I'm with my friend Jennifer Pascua.

We used to do local television together.

>> We did.

>> And then you came on the lifestyle show, and you were hosting the lifestyle show, and we would do flowers together all the time.

>> And you know what?

You inspired me because after we started doing those segments, I started putting flowers in my home, and I felt like a happier person.

>> One of the things that you and I share in common is we love to eat.

>> Sure do.

>> I know, right?

Right, right, but whenever we see yummy stuff, we want to eat it, we want to try it.

so what we're going to do today is we're going to recycle some food containers... >> Oh!

>> ...for arrangements.

>> Okay.

>> So strawberry season in Michigan -- you know, Michigan strawberries, there's nothing like them.

>> Yeah.

>> So what I did was I just took a little mushroom container... >> Oh!

Yeah.

>> ...that was my mushrooms to make it waterproof, right?

>> Okay.

>> And so then I have succulents, and I just stuck a bamboo skewer in the back of them.

>> Okay.

Look at that, just plain using greens.

>> Right, right, right because there's nothing wrong with that, either.

>> No.

I think we get stuck in that whole mentality that you've got to have some color.

It's something... >> Right, right, right, right, right, and I think it is fun to just do something that's kind of fun and interesting like that.

>> Look at that.

Oh, I love it.

>> I've just got a canning jar, a little Mason jar, right?

>> Yeah.

>> Okay, and we're going to drop it down.

I've tied craft paper around the outside.

>> Okay.

>> It had peaches or something like that in it.

>> Right.

So effortlessly you do this, J.

Look at how gorgeous that is.

>> I have a lot of practice.

>> Mm-hmm.

>> But if we do it more frequently, we get better at it, right?

I'm going to let you make an arrangement.

>> Okay.

>> I've got some stuff for you.

>> All right.

>> So I have a Banksia Protea.

>> This?

>> I have -- Nope.

What's that?

>> Oh.

>> What do you think that is?

>> I asked him earlier off camera, "Is this an artichoke?

It looks like an artichoke."

It is, right?

>> It is.

It's an artichoke on a stem.

>> I would not have thought of using an artichoke as part of a flower arrangement.

>> Right?

And so -- >> Okay.

>> And then you have some protea.

>> This is protea?

>> Uh-huh.

>> Okay.

>> Those are actually Leucadendron Protea.

>> Oh.

>> These are sunflowers.

>> I love the sunflowers.

I actually grew sunflowers in my garden this year.

>> I also have some Hydrangea that look like that.

>> Oh, yeah.

Okay.

>> And this is a little bit of mock orange for foliage.

Okay, so... >> Oh, I love this.

>> ...this is a Extra Virgin Olive Oil jar.

>> Okay.

>> And I just put my can opener on the top, and I cut off the top, I cleaned it out, and I filled it with water.

I would start with your foliage.

>> My foliage, this.

>> This guy, yeah.

>> Okay, so when you're cutting, like, is it at an angle, or... >> You should cut at an angle.

>> Okay.

>> Yep.

>> And do I just stick it in there?

>> Uh-huh.

Now what I'm going to tell you, go ahead, put it in there.

>> What, am I doing it wrong?

>> No, no, no, no, no, you're -- No, no, no, no.

Now you've created a structure that's going to hold some of your flowers in place.

>> Oh, so I don't need all the spongy thing in the bottom.

>> No, nope, you just have water inside there, right.

>> Okay.

Okay.

>> All right.

Now what?

>> Now what do you think?

I might add a Hydrangea.

So you're going to let me coach you through this whole thing, aren't you?

>> I am.

Well, because I want to do it right.

Yours is so pretty.

Okay.

Oh, that was too... >> No, it's good.

>> It was too much, too much.

>> No, it's not.

>> Okay.

>> Use your other one.

>> This one?

>> Uh-huh, and cut that one a little a shorter.

>> Shorter?

>> Uh-huh, yeah, very good.

>> Really?

>> Uh-huh, yeah.

Put it on this side.

>> What do you think?

>> I want some sunflowers now.

>> Okay, good.

The question I have is, are you feeling more relaxed?

>> Yeah, now I am.

>> Are you feeling more at ease?

>> Mm-hmm.

>> Are you feeling happy about it?

>> I am.

I am.

>> What do you think?

>> This scares me, but, you know what, this is -- >> Okay, that scares you, so then we should use it, right?

>> Yeah, absolutely.

>> So we're going to cut it a little bit short because what we're going to do is we're going to tuck it down right here.

It's a big stem, right?

>> Oh, yeah, it is a big stem.

>> Okay, so now you're going to go right in there.

>> Oh, that's fun.

>> Right?

>> Yep.

This is so interesting.

>> Do you want that?

>> Yeah, I want it all.

>> You want it all?

Okay.

>> I want it all.

>> All right, then he's gonna go back here, okay.

We should take off a few of these leaves... >> Okay.

Just cut them off?

>> ...because they're going to get in the way.

Bring it over here and decide.

You know, you're going to want it there, but you're going to want it probably about 2 or 3 inches shorter, right?

>> Sure.

>> Because you're going to want it to fit right in there.

>> Yeah, yeah, yeah.

>> So that's how much you're going to take off the bottom of the stem.

>> Okay.

Oh, this one is a hard stem, J.

>> It is hard.

>> [ Grunts ] There we go.

>> Oh, see, I love that you... You can do it.

You are not a delicate flower.

>> [ Gasps ] Look at that.

Did I do well?

>> I think you did great.

Here, you want to turn it around and look at it?

>> Yeah, can I look at it?

>> Mm-hmm.

>> Oh, I don't know about... Well, you know... >> See, I like that.

>> ...it's kind of like a little flow.

>> Asymmetrical, right?

>> Yeah.

Oh, this is gorgeous.

Look at that.

Oh, yay!

>> There we go.

See how good you did?

Aww... >> Thank you.

It's so pretty.

>> ...you're so cute.

Ah, that's so great.

We have a special tradition at "Life in Bloom."

>> Oh, boy.

>> I'm having so much fun with you that I forget.

>> Do I get a flower crown?

>> You get a flower crown.

So let's see how I did.

>> Okay.

All right.

I've got a big noggin, but does it work?

>> It does work.

Is it back far enough?

>> I don't know.

There you go.

>> Oh, see, there's your pretty face.

>> Oh, there we go.

There we go.

>> Okay, so, yeah, thanks for coming.

>> Thank you, J.

>> You're welcome.

♪ Hydrangeas are native to the Americas and eastern Asia with the greatest species diversity being found in China, Japan, and Korea.

Hydrangeas come in white, pink, red, blue, light or dark purple.

The colors of the flowers, depending on the species, is dependent on the soil pH.

Soils with a pH of less than 5.5 produce blue flowers.

Soils with a greater pH than 5.5 produce pink flowers.

White flowers are not affected by pH.

Most Hydrangea shrubs are 3 to 9 feet tall, but some have been known to reach up to 98 feet by climbing up trees.

In Japan, sweet tea, Amacha, is made from the leaves of the Hydrangea.

This tea is used annually on April 8th for the Buddha-bathing ceremony to celebrate Buddha's birthday.

♪ Sometimes, I find a great old container like this, and I want to put flowers in it.

Obviously, this wooden box isn't going to hold water, so I'll line it with a reclaimed container.

It's a cottage-cheese container that I cleaned out, and we'll use it inside that box.

I'll place some moss around the inside, and so it builds up the bottom level.

♪ So the container will sit up in the middle.

Then we can fill it with water... ♪ ...and add our flowers.

It's a great way to reuse and repurpose food containers.

♪ As you've seen today, flower vessels come in many colors, shapes, and sizes.

Where are you going to find your next vase?

For "Life in Bloom," I'm J Schwanke.

See you next time.

♪ >> It's quiet.

You can't see me in view.

>> Where's J?

>> How do you feel about shooting on the floor?

>> Perfect.

>> Do you want to get out of there, or are you just waiting?

>> He can get -- Yeah, he can walk out.

[ Laughter ] >> I can see you now.

>> "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is filmed in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

>> "J Schwanke's Life in Bloom" is brought to you by... ...with additional support from the following companies... Closed caption funding provided by Ocean View Flowers.

For everything flowers, recipes, projects, and more information, visit uBloom.com.